Heat shield and splash guard for urns

ABSTRACT

A unitary three-sided heat shield and splash guard for gas-fired coffee urns and the like commonly found in restaurants. The device protects restaurant personnel and portable beverage receptacles from the flame and also provides positive drainage of any spillage to the counter drain.

United States Patent Everett R. Seek 316 Linthicurn St., Rockville, Md. 20851 821,896

May 5, 1969 July 6, 1971 Inventor A-ppl. No. Filed Patented HEAT SHIELD AND SPLASH GUARD FOR URNS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

us. Cl 126/201, 126/42 Int. Cl F241! 15/36 Field of Search 126/350, 114, 42, 85, 93, 201, 202; 99/279, 285, 290, 291,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,757 9/1943 Tinnerman 126/114 X 3,291,033 12/1966 Curtis et al. 99/291 X Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Attorney-B. P. Fishburne, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A unitary three-sided heat shield and splash guard for gas-fired coffee urns and the like commonly found in restaurants. The device protects restaurant personnel and portable beverage receptacles from the flame and also provides positive drainage of any spillage to the counter drain.

PATENTEUJUL BIS?! 3,590.80?

INVENTOR EVERETT R. SEEK QWW 5 ATTORNEY HEAT SHIELD AND SPLASH GUARD FOR URNS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention arises as a result of a need which has existed for some time for some means to protect restaurant workers, particularly their hands, from the effects of the very hot gas flames which are maintained under the most common types of beverage urns. The users of the urn must bring their hands quite close to the flame when operating the outlet faucets as when filling coffee cups or portable pots. Some of these pots or receptacles have plastic components which are adversely effected by the intense heat. The bottoms of the conventional urns are left open and the urns commonly stand on legs which space the urn body and burners somewhat above the counter top. No ready means has been available to enclose the lower portion of the urn and form an effective heat or flame barrier around the same. A further need exists for a splash guard or drainage guard which will prevent any liquid spillage from entering the counter top area directly beneath the um and direct the spillage to the usual counter drain in front of the urn.

The invention herein satisfies the above needs by the provision of an extremely simple attachment guard which is economical to construct, very easy to install without altering the structure of the counter or um, and without detracting from the utility of these components. The guard fits around the urn body neatly and closely and actually improves the appearance of the equipment considerably. The device is constructed so as to be a very effective heat barrier and requires no servicing and should outlast the life of the urn under normal conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa heat shield an splash guard embodying the invention and showing the same installed upon an urn.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of the guard showing its interior surfaces.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the guard showing certain details thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT- Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals designate like parts, the shield or guard proper embodying the invention comprises a three-sided enclosure, as shown, including an elongated rectangular front panel disposed vertically during use and relatively short rectangular side panels 11 disposed at right angles to the front panel and projecting rearwardly thereof in use. The body of the shield comprised of the three panels 10 and 11 is preferably formed of polished stainless steel, such as a 24 gage sheet stainless, to render the exterior of the guard neat and attractive. The entire guard or shield including the three panels 10 and 11 may be formed from a single section of sheet metal utilizing conventional cutting and bending techniques. The overall size of the device may be varied as required to meet the needs of a particular installation.

The guard is rendered heat-resistant by the provision, on the interior faces of its three panels, of rectangular sections 12 and 13 of approximately one-fourth inch thick board formed from a mixture of asbestos fiber and cement. Such board material is highly resistant to heat even in close proximity to an open flame and is relatively nonflaking, quite hard and selfsustaining. The insulating board is of a type well-known and available on the open market and, per se, is conventional. As shown in FIG. 2, the three heat-resistant sections or panels 12 and 13 completely cover the interior faces of the three sided stainless steel guard or shield.

To secure the insulating sections to the panels of the guard, without the requirement for separable fasteners, drilling of parts and the like, each of the three metal sides or panels are formed in the manner shown in FIG. 3 which is a typical cross section through any panel of the device. As shown in this figure, the bottom of each vertical panel has an integral forwardly projecting drain lip 14 extending for its entire length and a reverted underlying flat horizontal flange 15, terminating in a relatively short upstanding vertical flange 16 at the rear thereof in spaced opposed parallel relation to the particular panel 10 or 1 l. The flange 16 is continuous along each side or panel, as shown in FIG. 2. It may be seen that a groove or socket for the lower end portion of each insulating section 12 and 13 is provided by the flange 16, the opposing panel 10 or 11, and the horizontal flange 15 upon which the insulating section rests.

At its top, the guard is provided on all three panels or sides with a rearwardly sloping extension 17 terminating in an inverted U-shaped channel or hem 18 at the extreme top of the device. This hem receives the upper inclined edge portion 19 of a retainer strip or clip 20 for the respective insulating board section 12 or 13. The upper edge portion of the insulating board section is socketed between the clip 20 and the opposing panel of the metal guard, and after assembly, the inclined clip portion 19 is soldered or welded in place within the hem l8, and the guard or shield is then completely assembled and constitutes a unitary structure. At the rear vertical edges of the side panels 11, flanges 21 are folded over upon the insulating sections 13 to secure them, as shown clearly in FIG. 2.

It will be noted that the three heat insulating or heat resist ing sections 12 and 13 are now securely locked in assembled relationship with the one piece stainless steel guard and no drilling or cutting of parts has been required and no screws, rivets or the like were employed. The structure is extremely simple, economical and neat and attractive.

The use of the invention is depicted somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 1, wherein the numeral 22 designates generally a conventional gas-fired urn for coffee and like hot beverages, mounted on a counter 23 having a drain 24 for liquid drippings, the urn having dispensing spigots 25. The urn 22 is usually supported on four corner legs, not shown, with suitable gas burners arranged under the urn body slightly above the counter top. The invention guard, as shown in FIG. 1, fits closely around the front and sides of the generally rectangular urn, leaving the rear side open so that air can circulate under the urn to support combustion of the gas. The front of the guard or shield is disposed inwardly of the counter drain 24 so that drippings will be received by this drain and will not tend to flow under the urn where cleaning is inconvenient and dangerous where the parts are hot. The forward lip 14 of the guard assists in positive drainage. The heat-resisting or -insulating board sections 12 and 13 being arranged inwardly receive the heat from the gas burners directly and the exterior of the guard remains relatively cool at all times.

The guard may be anchored to the front legs of the urn by four screws 26, as shown and the parts may be drilled to receive these screws on the site at the time of installation. The guard not only protects restaurant personnel and certain coffee pots and dishes from the effects of heat but also aids in draining and maintaining the adjacent counter area sanitary. Additionally, the guard renders the urn more attractive and neat in appearance as the underlying burners and associated parts are hidden from view.

The various features and advantages of the invention should now be apparent without the necessity for further description. The invention is characterized by extreme simplicity of construction and is very efficient in use. It should be further understood that while stainless steel has been specified as the material for the body of the guard, other types of sheet metal may be employed in some instances, if desired. Also, the precise composition of the insulating sections 12 and I3 is not critical and various known insulating boards or compositions may be employed.

lclaim:

l. A guard particularly for restaurant-type gas-fired beverage urns comprising a unitary sheet metal body having a front panel and a pair of side panels extending rearwardly of the front panel, said guard composed of said panels being of a size and shape to fit closely around the front and sides of an urn and said guard being of height to cover only the bottom open portion of the urn adjacent the legs thereof and allowing the back of the urn to be entirely uncovered, and sections of insulating material substantially covering the interior faces of the sheet metal body panels, said sections substantially greater in thickness than said panels, an flange means carried by said panels and lying rearwardly of said sections of insulating material and maintaining the sections in fixed assembled relationship with the panels.

' 2. The structure of claim 1, and said flange means comprising on each panel of said sheet metal body at the lower end thereof a forwardly projecting lip to serve as a drainage element, a reversely bent flange underlying the lip and the adjacent section of insulating material and a rearward upturned flange on the reversely bent flange spaced from and parallel to the panel forming therewith a lower channel for the bottom edge portion of said section of insulating material, said flange means being continuous along each panel.

3. The structure of claim 2, and a retaining strip carried by the top of each panel and lying rearwardly of the adjacent section of insulating material and securing the latter in fixed assembled relationship with the adjacent panel.

4. The structure of claim 3, and said strip being a separately formed continuous element along the top of said panel and said section of insulating material, and an integral hem formed on the top of said panel receiving an edge portion of said strip.

5. The structure of claim 4, and an inclined extension on the top of said panel having said hem as an integral part thereof, said hem being substantially U-shaped and spaced above the rear of said section of insulating material, said strip having a inclined upper terminal parallel to the inclined extension and fitting within the hem, said strip lying in a common vertical plane with said rearward upturned flange. 

1. A guard particularly for restaurant-type gas-fired beverage urns comprising a unitary sheet metal body having a front panel and a pair of side panels extending rearwardly of the front panel, said guard composed of said panels being of a size and shape to fit closely around the front and sides of an urn and said guard being of height to cover only the bottom open portion of the urn adjacent the legs thereof and allowing the back of the urn to be entirely uncovered, and sections of insulating material substantially covering the interior faces of the sheet metal body panels, said sections substantially greater in thickness than said panels, an flange means carried by said panels and lying rearwardly of said sections of insulating material and maintaining the sections in fixed assembled relationship with the panels.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said flange means comprising on each panel of said sheet metal body at the lower end thereof a forwardly projecting lip to serve as a drainage element, a reversely bent flange underlying the lip and the adjacent section of insulating material and a rearward upturned flange on the reversely bent flange spaced from and parallel to the panel forming therewith a lower channel for the bottom edge portion of said section of insulating material, said flange means being continuous along each panel.
 3. The structure of claim 2, and a retaining strip carried by the top of each panel and lying rearwardly of the adjacent section of insulating material and securing the latter in fixed assembled relationship with the adjacent panel.
 4. The structure of claim 3, and said strip being a separately formed continuous element along the top of said panel and said section of insulating material, and an integral hem formed on the top of said panel receiving an edge portion of said strip.
 5. The structure of claim 4, and an inclined extension on the top of said panel having said hem as an integral part thereof, said hem being substantially U-shaped and spaced above the rear of said section of insulating material, said strip having a inclined upper terminal parallel to the inclined extension and fitting within the hem, said strip lying in a common vertical plane with said rearward upturned flange. 